Securing the Supply Chain Amid Tariffs and Global Disruption

The supply chain used to be a mostly invisible part of corporate life — the backend infrastructure of global commerce where raw materials became products and products became profits.  

But today, it’s a front-page issue, a top priority in the boardroom, and a major source of risk. Trade policies shift like the wind, disrupting the steady flow of goods with little warning. Geopolitical tensions, cyber threats, and labor unrest expose the hidden fragility of even the most well-oiled logistics networks.  

Organizations are learning the hard way that their supply chains are only as strong as their weakest link. 

Emerging Security Risks in a Shifting Supply Chain

The scramble to retool supply chains under tariff pressure brings new vulnerabilities. Security teams must consider not just the costs, but the threats that come with change. Here are some key concerns. 

• Warehouse & Transit Exposure. Enlarging inventory means leasing more warehouse space and adding transport routes. New locations may have unfamiliar or higher crime rates. Unvetted third-party carriers or couriers introduce fresh risk. Rigorous vetting is important for fraud or cargo theft prevention.  
• Regulatory & Compliance Gaps. New suppliers and regions bring new rules. Falling afoul of customs, export controls, or labor laws can trigger seizures or fines. Inconsistent tariff enforcement means that a part sourced overseas one month might be banned the next. Companies must vigilantly update compliance checks as they shift sources. 
• Intellectual Property & Corporate Espionage. Tariff-driven shifts often force organizations into new markets or product lines. In pharmaceutical or technology industries where R&D is a competitive advantage, the risk is particularly acute. Without robust safeguards, trade secrets and proprietary data can leak to rivals or foreign competitors, undermining years of innovation. 
• Insider Threats. Rushed expansions also increase the risk of insider theft. A single disgruntled employee or corrupt contractor can exploit poorly secured systems to pilfer valuable goods, falsify inventory records, or sabotage operations. What starts as a small internal breach can quickly spiral into a major reputational or financial crisis. 
• Personnel & Executive Safety. Supply chain security also extends to executives and key personnel traveling to high-risk regions for site visits or negotiations. Recent high-profile attacks on business leaders underscore the need for comprehensive executive travel security plans. As the cost of essential products such as medicine rises, some aggravated customers may lash out at personnel. 

Strategies for Building Supply Chain Resilience

The organizations weathering the storm are the ones that plan for the long game. They’re not just reacting to tariffs or stockpiling raw materials — they’re actively restructuring their supply chains for flexibility and resilience.  

• Diversify Suppliers & Stock. Relying on a single source for critical inputs is a high-stakes gamble, as pandemic-era shortages demonstrated. Companies are hedging their bets and reducing geopolitical exposure by building multi-country supply networks, and even investing in reshoring to bring production closer to home. Meanwhile, prudent stockpiling and inventory buffers ensure continuity if a primary supplier becomes unreachable or no longer pencils out. 
• Nearshoring & Geographic Rebalancing. The move to onshore or nearshore production closer to home shortens supply lines, reduces shipping costs, and minimizes exposure to volatile trade routes. But it also requires careful vetting of new partners and a deep understanding of local security dynamics. 
• Enhancing Visibility & Compliance. Companies are doubling down on digital tools that offer real-time visibility into their supply chains — from IoT sensors to AI-powered risk assessment platforms. These technologies can alert managers to potential disruptions, theft, or compliance violations before they spiral into full-blown crises.  
• Supply Chain Certifications. Certifications can also mitigate delays. For example, US Customs' CTPAT program requires strict security standards from factory to port. Compliance with such standards can remove many of the pitfalls of importing high-quantity, high-value goods and expedite border clearance.  
• Robust Risk Assessments. The current turmoil is prompting companies to refresh their security posture. Conducting thorough supply chain risk assessments and gap analyses is important. This includes physical security audits of warehouses and ports, review of cybersecurity defenses for logistics software, and evaluation of insider-threat detection programs.  
• Strategic Planning & Training. Proactive planning keeps companies agile. Many are running tabletop exercises and war games focused on trade disruptions. These sessions test crisis management and business continuity plans — how to handle a sudden supplier cutoff, a blocked port, or a cargo theft incident.  

How Pinkerton Can Help Protect Supply Chains from Geopolitical Threats 

Pinkerton’s global risk expertise makes us a strategic partner for managing these challenges. Our Corporate Supply Chain Risk Management program delivers end-to-end solutions to safeguard goods and people. Key ways we assist include: 

• Global Due Diligence & Vetting. When companies onboard new suppliers, carriers, or facilities, Pinkerton can provide rigorous background checks and site evaluations. We’ll vet ownership, financial stability, security practices, ESG practices, and past compliance issues for any third party. Our on-the-ground investigators and SCOUT due diligence reports give insight into partner reliability anywhere in the world. 
• Risk & Threat Assessments. We conduct tailored threat, risk, and vulnerability assessments for every link in the supply chain. This may involve inspecting new warehouse locations for crime exposure or testing physical access controls at ports. Our analysis identifies potential hot spots (e.g., border controls, natural disaster zones, or political unrest) that could hit your operations. These insights feed actionable mitigation plans to keep supply lines flowing. 
• Cargo Security & Incident Response. Pinkerton can arrange high-value cargo escorts — armed or unarmed as needed — through high-risk segments. If shipments are lost or stolen, our global investigation teams mobilize quickly to discover the culprits and identify key vulnerabilities to shore up. We also monitor illicit trade channels and counterfeit activity that might threaten your supply. 
• Reliable Intelligence. Through resources like the Pinkerton Crime Index and Risk Pulse, we provide routine updates on geopolitical and criminal risks in key markets. This protective intelligence alerts you to emerging threats and changing trends that could disrupt your operations. 
• Business Continuity & Training. Pinkerton consultants run table-top exercises in crisis management, workplace violence, and continuity planning. By simulating tariff-driven crises and major supply chocks, we help leadership test their playbooks and refine decision-making before disaster strikes. 

Pinkerton Security Solutions

In an era of tariffs and trade upheaval, security leaders must anticipate disruptions, mitigate vulnerabilities, and respond decisively. By diversifying supply chains, investing in visibility, and partnering with expert risk managers, organizations can turn uncertainty into opportunity.  

Pinkerton’s specialized capabilities make us a trusted ally for corporate security teams striving to keep supply chains safe, efficient, and reliable.